Over 5,000 jobs available for displaced POGO workers—DOLE
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said over 5,000 jobs are available for workers displaced by the shutdown of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
In a report by The Philippine STAR, DOLE Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma said a two-day special job fair would be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay from Jan. 28 to 29, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Around 126 local employers and six agencies overseas will be present in the job fair, and Laguesma said more jobs might still be offered.
The official noted that most of the jobs offered in previous fairs were entry-level positions.
“This time, it will be high-end jobs. Most of the employees of IGL (internet gaming licensees) have background on information technology,” he said.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also announced vacancies for 30 client support specialists, the STAR reported.
The DMW said accepted applicants will take charge of the agency’s contact center in Makati.
Last November, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. issued an executive order banning POGOs in the country.
Applications for new licenses, permits or authorizations of POGOs, and other offshore gaming applicants will no longer be allowed.
The decision came after the firms have been allegedly connected to crimes ranging from financial crimes to kidnapping, human trafficking, and murder over the past few years.
Marcos made good on his promise in his second State of the Nation Address in July when he said POGOs are banned "effective immediately" as it's time to put an end to their "grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws."
"Naririnig po namin ang malakas na sigaw ng taumbayan laban sa mga POGO," he said. "Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into elicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture—even murder."
